Electrical switch



Sept. 7 1926.

L. A. M. PHELAN ET AL ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed Deg. 22, 1922 indicated that will be simple and economi-l cal to construct and which will possess a Patented Sept. 7, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS A. PHELLN AND PAUL K. CBAMBLET, OF BELOIT, WISCONSIN.

ELECTRICAL SW'ITGIEL Application filed December 22, 1922. Serial No. 608,505.

i a closed container and are adapted'to be brought into electrical conducting relation with one another through the agency of a movable conductin body, preferably a fluid such as mercury, Tikewise disposed in said container and which, on being tilted, is instrumental in performing the circuit-closing and circuit-opening functions of the device.

More particularly our invention relates to electrical contactors of the character indicated above, which will serve to make and break alternately two associated electrical circuits. Or, in other words, this invention refers to a contactor of the character indicated which will operate with an electrical .20 circuit in a manner similar to the ordinary double throw, single pole switch. The invention may comprise a cylindrical, elongated tube, preferably in the form of a glass container, that serves to enclosetwo pairs of electrodes, and a body of conducting liquid such as mercury; the latter being adapted to bridge either pair of the electrodes within the tube. The tube is preferably disposed, when installed, to occupy normally a position neighboring on the horizontal, and is suitably supported so that it may be tilted in either direction and thus allow the conducting fluid 'to flowinto and out of bridging relation with either pair of electrodes, and at the expense of very little energy. The electrodes are sealed within the tubes, and as shown, in this particular instance are placed in airs adjacent the opposite ends of the tin e. A

;A particular object of our present form of construction is to provide in a single contactor tube means for making orbreaking 'the current in'two separate but associated electrical circuits.

A further object 'of the invention is to produce a contactor tube of-the above described type which may conveniently be de tachably mounted.

A still further object of the invention is rovide -a contactor deviceof the type long life even when subjected to mechanical abuse, and which will withstand a considerstantial voltage.

able quantity of electric current at a sub Further objects will appear upon reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of one modification of device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2is a sectional view taken through the axis of the structure in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but of a modified form of the invention; and,

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of a contact ring.

Referring to Fig. '1, the device comprises in a general way a glasscontainer 1 filledwith a gas such as hydrogen which is inert under theconditions prevailing in the container. The container 1 encloses two pairs of electrodes 2 and3, and 4 and 5, which are mounted respectively on supportin leads 6, 7, 8 and 9. The electrodes are pre erably composed of pure iron or other conductive substances which do not ama'lgamate and which are not affected appreciably by 'mercury in the presence of repeated arcing.v

The supporting leads 6 and 9 are sealed in and extend through the ends of the container 1, and make contact with metal caps 10 and 11 respectively. The supporting leads 7 and 8 are joined to a connecting lead 12 ata point within a glass extension 12 extending inwardly from the wall of container 1 adjacent the center thereof. The lead 12 extends out of the container into .contact with a ring 13.

of the glass tube in order that they will not be exposed at any point on the interior of the tube. p g

The outer ends of wires 14 and 15 extend through and are soldered at 16 and 17, re-

spectively, to the cap members 10 and 11. The ca members 10 and 11 are designed to be etachably engaged by any suitable type of spring clip similar to those used in connection with ordinary cartridge fuses.

The lead 12 extends to the exterior of container 1 and is soldered to the ring 13 at. 18. In order that the ring 13 may conveniently be placed upon the tube 1 after the lead wire 12 is in place, the ring may be provided with a slot 13*. The ring 13 is designed to be used in connection with a sprin clip in a manner similar to the caps 10 an 11. The cap members 10 and 11 and the ring 13 are securely retained by a layer of cement, such as at 19, upon the exterior surface-of container 1.

A body of conducting liquid such as mercury 20 is located in the container 1,and is free to travel from end to end thereof, when the tube is tilted in either direction from the horizontal position shown in Fig. 2. If the tube is sufliciently tilted in either direction, the. body of mercury 20 will be caused to come into bridging relation with one or the other of the pairs of electrodes 2 and 3, or 4.- and 5.

The above described structure forms a convenient design for use where it is possible to employ a common return for the two circuits, whereas the modification shown in Fig. 3 is intended for use with two circuits which are electrically entirely independent.

The structure shown in Fig. 3 is similar to that shown in Fig. 2 with the exception that two separated central rings 21 and 22 are used in order to support and connect the center electrodes 23 and 24 in their respective circuits. Electrodes 25 and 26 may be mounted in a manner similar to the electrodes 2 and 5 in Fig. 2.

While we have shown and described several embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that many modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims, and we desire that only such limitations shall be imposed upon our invention as are specifically pointed out in the claims and such as are required by the prior art.

What we now claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is i 1. A double throw contactor switch comprlsing a hermetically sealed elongated glass container, an electrode fixed in each end of said container, a each of which is positione between the center of said container and one of the first named electrodes, a common support for said pair of electrodes comprising an inwardly extending integral shank adjacent the center of said container and extending downwardly from the upper wall thereof, a

metallic member exterior of said container liquid movable beneath said electrodes an said support to and from contact with said electrodes.

2. An electrical contactor comprising a air of electrodes pair of electrodes adjacent the central portion of said container, electrodes at each end of said container each cooperating with one. of said pair of electrodes, common means for mounting and protecting said contactor and for detachably' connecting said contactor in circuit comprising metallic elements exterior of said container and supported thereupon at spaced points, at least one of which points is intermediate the container ends, and leads extending through the walls of said container and connecting said electrodes to said elements.

3. A double throw switch of the liquid contactor type comprising an elongated sealed container composed of fragile insulating1 material, rigid metallic caps embracing t e ends of said container, a rigid metallic band embracing said container intermediate its ends, and electrodes within the ends of said container electrically connected to said caps, a pair of electrodes within the central portion of said container each of which cooperates with one of said first named electrodes and is electrically connected to said band, and a common, support formed integrally with said container for the electrodes of said pair.

1 4. An electrical switch of the liquid contactor type comprising a tubular container, a metallic band embracing said tubular container at a point intermediate its ends, a pair of electrodes within said container in the region beneath said band, and a leading-in wire electrically connecting said band and said electrodes, said band forming a common terminal for said pair of electrodes.

5. Anelectrical switch of the liquid contactor type comprising a tubular container, a metallic band'embracing said tubular container at a point intermediate its ends, a pair of electrodeswithin said container in the region beneath said band, a supporting shank formed integrally with and transversely to said tubular container and extending downwardly from the upper'wall thereof, and a leading-in wire from said band sealed in said shank and electrically connected to said electrodes, said band forming a common terminal for said pair of electrodes. I

6. An electrical switch comprising a tubular container, a metallic band embracing said tubular container, said band being provided with a slot extending to one edge thereof, and a leading-in wire extending out.

of said container beneath said band and into said slot. w

7. An electrical switch comprisin bular container, a metallic band em racing said tubular container, said band being pro vided with a slot extending to one edge thereof, an electrode within said container and a leading-in wire extending from said a tuasses electrode to the exterior of said container a}; a point beneath said band and into said s ot.

a 8. An electrical switch comprising a tubu lar container, a metallic band embracing said tubular container, said band being provided with a slot extending to one edge thereof, an electrode within said container in the region beneath said band, --a support ing shank formed integrally with said tubu- 10 In witness v vhereof, we have hereunto 15 subscribed our names.

LOUIS A. M. PHELAN. PAUL K. C RAMBLET. 

